Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) unveiled a 10-year agreement with the Bermuda government that will allow the cruise line to carry more cruise passengers to the islands and make longer visits there beginning in 2009.

NCL has allotted the 2,000-passenger Norwegian Spirit and 2,200-passenger Norwegian Dawn to sail from Boston and New York respectively, with at least 22 sailings a year each to Bermuda. Norwegian Majesty will sail there from Philadelphia, Baltimore and Charleston, S.C.

The ships will make extended stays in Bermuda, which tightly controls cruise access to the islands. Based on double occupancy, NCL would carry about 139,000 passengers there in 2009, compared with about 116,000 this year.

As part of the agreement, NCL will partner with Bermuda’s Department of Tourism and Chamber of Commerce to contribute to the Bermuda experience. This includes becoming one of the sponsors for the annual Bermuda Music Festival, supporting the St. George’s Foundation and the Bermudian Heritage Association, and developing a new program to continue encouraging cruise guests to dine in restaurants ashore.